Aerosol valve actuator locking device



March 31, 1970 s. B. PRUssIN ErAI. 3,503,543

AEROSOL VAIIVE ACTUATOR LOCKING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 2 ll 56 I I3 FIG! 20 H8 F IG.2 m I20 //IO8 m I221 H 96 I02 6 9a 92 7! I00 I '02 so I06 '0 I06 22 2e FIG.3 52

March 31, 1970 s, B. PRUSSIN ETAL 3,503,543

AEROSOL VALVE ACTUATOR LOCKING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1968 3 SheetsSheet March 31, 1970 5, usgm ETAL 3,503,543

AEROSOL VALVE ACTUATOR LOCKING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent M 3,503,543 AEROSOL VALVE ACTUATOR LOCKING DEVICE Samuel B. Prussin, Los Angeles, and Jimmie L. Mason, Hacienda Heights, Califl, assignors to Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 6, 1968, Ser. No. 735,032 Int. Cl. B65d 25/46; F161: 35/00 U.S. Cl. 222402.11 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an aerosol valve actuator locking device, and more particularly, to a locking device for use in locking an aerosol dispensing valve, when an aerosol container is in upright position, and allowing actuation of the valve only when the container is inverted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various fluid dispensing valves have been used for the purpose of concurrent proportional dispensation of a plurality of fluids, and various problems have occurred when separate fluids have been dispensed from a common valve, particularly when the fluids are pressurized by an aerosol medium internally of the container. In such prior art valves, the separate fluids, as they are used from the container, oftentimes fail to communicate with the respective dispensing orifices of the valve, and thus when the valve is operated, it fails to dispense one of the fluids concurrently with another of the fluids. Additionally, the aerosol pressurizing gas in the container may be inadvertently exhausted in lieu of the dispensation of one of a plurality of liquids from the container.

While it has been a common practice to invert some containers, it has been found that customers do not always follow instructions, and when it is necessary to invert a container for proper dispensation of a plurality of fluids, and when the instructions are not followed, the valve may be inadvertently operated with the container upright and cause a loss of the pressurizing fluids without properly dispensing the plurality of fluids desired. The foregoing problems, for example, may exist in the operation of dispensing valves adapted to dispense two separate fluids which mix to cause an exothermal reaction and production of a hot foam shave lather. In such valve operations, one fluid is mixed with another, not only to cause an exothermal reaction, but also to mix ingredients which produce a foam or other shaving material. Improper operation of valves for such purposes may cause an inadvertent loss of the pressurizing gas in the container without properly dispensing the desired materials, as aforementioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an aerosol valve actuator locking device which insures that an aerosol dispensing valve may not be operated unless a dispensing container is in a proper position to cause direct communication of a plurality of fluids with a plurality of valve dispensing orifices at a time that the valve is in open position to dispense such fluids.

Specifically, the invention includes a gravity actuated locking device which is adapted to lock an aerosol dis- 3,503,543 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ice pensing valve against operation, when the container is in upright position, and to unlock the actuator of the valve, when the container is in inverted position. The liquids in the container, by force of gravity, communicate directly with the liquid dispensing ports of the valve by force therethrough and caused to mix, when the container is inverted to cause the locking device of the invention to release the actuator and permit opening of the valve.

The aerosol valve actuator locking device of the invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a tiltable valve nozzle which serves as a valve actuator, and the actuator locking device of the invention is responsive to gravity so that it automatically seeks a proper locked or unlocked position relative to the valve actuator depending upon the desired disposition of the fluids container for proper liquid dispensing valve operation in connection therewith.

Specifically, the invention comprises a generally annular locking device which surrounds a tiltable valve actuator which also serves as a fluids dispensing conduit; said annular locking device adapted mechanically to abut a concentric member of a stationary structure, including the container cap, so that when the locking device is gravitationally moved in an axial direction with respect to the container, the locking device permits tiltable movement of the actuator of the valve, and when in another position, permits free tiltable movement of the valve actuator.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a very simple and economical valve actuator locking device which is very useful in insuring proper disposition of an aerosol fluids container and dispensing valve, such that the valve may not be opened unless the liquids to be dispensed from the container are directly in communication with outlet ports of the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple aerosol valve actuator locking device which may be very conveniently and compactly incorporated in stationary structure, including cap structure, normally secureable on conventional aerosol containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel aerosol valve actuator locking device which is particularly advantageous in connection with aerosol containers adapted to dispense a plurality of fluids, such as those adapted to provide a hot shave lather dispensation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an aerosol fluids container showing a valve housing and cap structure thereon which contains the aerosol valve actuator locking device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing an aerosol valve, valve actuator and the aerosol valve actuator locking device of the present invention in upright locked position;

FIG. 3 is enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the aerosol valve, valve actuator, and the aerosol valve actuator locking device of the present invention in an inverted position and in unlocked position relative to the actuator;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing tilting deflection of the valve actuator relative to the locking device of the invention and showing a related aerosol valve in open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 66 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing a modification of the present invention and illustrating the valve actuator and the aerosol valve actuator locking device of the invention in an inverted unlocked position, and further showing by broken lines, varying positions of the actuator and the valve actuator locking device, as they relate to open and closed positions, and locked and unlocked positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention is used in connection with an aerosol container which is generally a hollow cylindrical annular in cross section container. A stationary structure 12, including a cap, carries the valve actuator locking device of the invention, and a tiltably mounted hollow tubular actuator 13 is adapted to operate a dispensing valve located in a housing 16 carried by the stationary cap structure 12. The valve actuator locking device of the present invention is generally designated 17 and serves to hold or lock the aerosol dispensing valve in the housing 16 in closed position or to permit the valve to be operated into an open position by actuation of the tilting nozzle-type actuator 13.

Preliminary to a detail description of the valve actuator locking device of the invention, the container and valve structure related thereto is described as follows:

Supported in the central portion 14 of the stationary cap structure 12 is a valve housing 16 of the invention. Carried by the valve housing 16 is an inner fluid container 18 which is of generally collapsible character. This container 18 may be of thin flexible plastic material and may collapse in response to pressure of fluid 20 in the outer container 10.

The valve housing 16 and the valve structure of the invention contained therein, are shown on a large scale in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings. The valve housing 16 is preferably constructed of plastic or other suitable material and includes a pair of axially concentric housing parts 22 and 24 which are telescopically connected together at 26. The housing portion 24 is provided with a cylindrical female portion fitted over a hollow cylindrical male portion of the housing part 22. These parts, at the telescopic connection 26, are interlocked by suitable annular ridge and groove structure 27 which is deflectably snapped together so that the housing parts 22 and 24, when assembled, are capable of withstanding substantial axial pressure of a valve operating spring 28 supported in a hollow bore portion 30 of the housing part 24. This spring 28 bears on an annular ridge 32 of a poppet valve member 34, tending to hold an annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve member 34 against a first side 38 of a flexible valve element 40. This flexible valve element 40 is substantially annular in form and is provided with opposite sides, one of which is engagable by the annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve 34, and the other of which is engaged by a stationary annular seat portion 42 disposed within the interior of the housing part 22, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

A peripheral portion of the flexible valve element 40 is securely clamped between opposed ledges 44 and 46 of the housing parts 22 and 24, respectively.

The spring 28 being a compression spring tends to force the annular poppet valve portion 36 against one side 38 of the flexible valve element 40 and to thus deflect it, such that the opposite side of the flexible valve element 40 is securely and sealingly engaged with the annular seat 42 of the housing part 22.

The flexible valve element 40 is provided with a central opening 48 which forms a fluid passage, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The housing part 24 is provided with a hollow end portion 50, integral with an end portion 52 of the collapsible container 18. The hollow end portion having a passage 51, communicating with the bore 30 of the housing part 24, forms a passage means communicating with the same side of the flexible valve element 40 that is engaged by the annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve 34.

The housing part 22 is provided with an annulus 54 therein which also communicates with a port 56 in the side wall of the housing part 22. The port 56 and the annulus 54 provides communication of fluids in the outer container 10 with a side of the flexible valve element opposite to that communicating with the bore 30 of the housing part 24. Thus, separate fluid passage means communicate with opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40 to conduct separate fluids, one of which flows between the annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve 34 and the flexible valve element 40; and the other which flows between the seat 42 and the flexible valve element.

The fluid which flows from the container 18 through the passage 51 and bore 30, and over the annular valve element 36 also flows through the opening 48 in the flexible valve element, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5. The fluids then flow into an outlet area of the housing part 22, this area being generally indicated at 58. A valve carrier 59 is mounted in the area 58 and provided with a sleeve 60 having a plurality of radial guide fins 61 and an enlarged peripheral portion 62 for maintaining axial alignment of the carrier 59 with the flexible valve element 40. A lower stem portion 64 carries the poppet valve member 34, and thus, this poppet valve member 34 is maintained in axial alignment with the flexible valve element 40 and the seat 42.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the fins 61 are radially disposed and spaced apart to permit flow of fluids from the annulus 54 and the bore 30 upwardly into the outlet area 58, wherein the carrier 59 is provided with openings 66 through which the fluids may flow subsequently to gain access to openings 68 through which the fluids successively flow into a bore 70 of the valve actuator and dispensing nozzle 13. This valve actuator and nozzle is tiltably mounted, as will be hereinafter described. This valve actuator and nozzle 13 is provided with an open end 74 through which fluids may ultimately be disposed to a use area.

The valve actuator and nozzle 13 are provided with a spherical peripheral portion 76 universally and tiltably mounted in a spherical seal member 78 intimately fitted to the periphery 76, but permitting tiltable deflection, as indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The normally inner end portion of the valve actuator and nozzle member 13 is provided with spherical cam surface 80 hearing in a recessed cam surface 82 of the valve carrier 59. This recess 82 is provided with an upstanding ledge 84.

This ledge 84 is annular and is adapted to be engaged by a central portion of the spherical cam surface 80, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, and to cause the valve carrier 59, together with the poppet valve 34 to be moved into the position, shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the annular valve portion 36 is moved away from the flexible valve element 40 to permit fluids, under pressure, in the bore 30 and the annulus 54, to cause the flexible valve element 40 to seek an intermediate position between the spaced apart annular valve portion 36 and the seat 42. In this manner, the flexible valve element 40 seeks a substantially centered position between the seat 42 and the annular valve portion 36 to allow substantially equal amounts of the respective fluids in the bore 30 and the annulus 54 to flow at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40. Thus, the invention accomplishes concurrent proportional dispensation or flow of the separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40, this flow then proceeds such that one of the fluids passes through the opening 48, as hereinbefore described, and the flexible valve element 40, and both fluids then pass into the outlet area 58 in which the carrier 59 is disposed.

It will be appreciated that when the poppet valve member 34 is moved into partially open position or fully opened position, that the flexible valve element, due to fluid pressure on opposite sides thereof, will seek an intermediate position between the seat 42 and the annular valve element 36, regardless of the degree to which the valve is opened, and therefore, the valve will provide for concurrent proportional flow of the separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element, regardless of the degree of Opening of the valve.

It will be appreciated, however, that when the spherical portion 80 of the nozzle member 76, engages the annular edge 84 of the valve carrier 59, that the valve may be forced to a completely open position, and that the ends 86 of the fins 60 may pass down to and in engagement with the flexible valve element 40 to force it away from the seat 42 at a distance equal to approximately one-half of the actuating distance of the poppet valve 34. Thus, rapid or snap action opening operation of the valve may be accomplished to actuate the flexible valve element 40 away from the seat 42, if desired.

In operation it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the pressure fluid in the container 10 may act upon the periphery of the collapsible container 18, and that the walls of this container 18 may be very thin and readily deflectable, such as to provide for an almost identical pressure differential at opposite sides of the flexible valve element and with respect to separate fluids disposed in the outer container 20, and in the inner container 18. Thus, the overall combination of the container and valve structure of the invention provides for concurrent equal dispensation of separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40 due to the fact that substantially equal pressures are disposed at said opposite sides, and therefore may cause the flexible valve element 40 to seek a substantially accurate intermediate position between the seat 42 and the annular portion 36 of the valve member 34 when the valve member is moved to a partially open position or to a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is necessary to invert the container 10 in order that the fluids communicate directly with the port 56 and passage 51, respectively, in the containers 10' and 18 so that the liquids .may concurrently be dispensed from the containers 10 and 18, as hereinbefore described. Should the fluids dispensing valve be opened while the container 10 is in upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressurizing gas acting externally of the container 10 would pass through the port 56 and be exhausted without the desired fluids dispensing function, hereinbefore described.

Accordingly, attention is now directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and particularly to the stationary structure 12 which includes a cap structure for the container 10. This structure 12 also forms a support for the gravity responsive valve actuator locking device of the invention which is generally designated 17. The stationary structure 12 comprises a cap 90 having a rolled edge connection portion 92 which is substantially conventional and secured to the upper open end of the container 10. This cap structure is provided with a centrally disposed cylindrical portion 94 which surrounds and carries the valve housing 16.

As hereinbefore described, the spherical portion 76 of the valve actuator and nozzle structure 13 is held in a spherical seal member 78 which is retained by a cap portion 96 integral with the upper end of the cylindrical portion 94 of the cap 90. The valve housing 16, at its upper end, is provided. with a spherical socket portion 98 which engages the spherical portion 76 of the actuator 13 in opposition to the seal 78, hereinbefore described.

Surrounding the cylindrical portion 94 of the cap 90 is an annular skirt portion 100 of the valve actuator locking device 17 of the invention. This skirt 100 is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed axially disposed ribs 102, shown best in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings. These ribs 102 bear closely and slidably in surrounding re1ation with the hollow cylindrical portion 94 of the cap 90 and provide a radial abutment for the skirt 100. Spaced from the skirt 100 and concentric therewith and disposed outwardly thereof in surrounding relation with the skirt 100 is another similar annular and cylindrical skirt 104 which is adapted to abut an annular wall 106 of the cap which surrounds said skirt 104.

Integral with the annular skirt and 104 is a substantially frusto conical portion 106 having a central opening 108 therein. This central opening 108 normally surrounds an enlarged diameter portion 110 of the valve actuator and nozzle member 13. The opening 108 being in closely surrounding relation with the enlarged portion 110 prevents tiltable movement of the nozzle and valve actuator 13 about the axis of the spherical portion 76 when the skirts 100 and 104 are abutted to this stationary structure 12, and thus the locking device 17 normally prevents actuation of the valve in the housing 16, as hereinbefore described.

Adjacent to the enlarged diameter portion 110 of the nozzle and valve actuator 13 is a substantially reduced diameter portion 112 which provides for a very loose fit in the opening 108, as indicated best in FIG. 5, which permits tiltable movement of the nozzle and valve actuator 13 about the axis of the spherical portion 76 suflicient to cause opening of the valve, as hereinbefore described. This function can be accomplished only when the container, as Well as the nozzle and actuator, are disposed in an inverted position, as shown in FIG. 5, whereupon the valve actuator and locking device 17 of the invention responds to gravity and falls to a position, such that the opening 108 passes out of interference with the enlarged diameter portion 110 and is in surrounding relation with the reduced diameter portion 112 of the valve actuator and nozzle 13. It will be seen that the valve actuator and nozzle 13 is composed of two parts 114 and 116 which are telescopically pressed together and that the part 114 is provided with a generally spheroid skirt portion 118 movably mounted adjacent to a complemental spheroid portion 120 of a cup-shaped cover 122 having a peripheral detent rim 124 frictionally engaged over the periphery of the cap 90, all as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Thus, the cover 122 encloses the valve actuator locking device of the invention.

The opening 108 of the locking member 17 serves as a first engaging portion engageable with the valve actuator and nozzle 13, as hereinbefore described, while a second engaging portion of the locking member is constituted by the skirt structures 100 and 104 concentrically abutted to the cap or stationary structure 90, as hereinbefore described, when in locked position. These engaging portions of the locking member 17 is disposed in unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 5, when the container is disposed in inverted position. Thus, the first engaging means 108 is out of interference with the enlarged diameter portion 110, as shown in FIG. 5, permitting movement of the valve actuator and nozzle 13.

In a modification of the invention, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the locking member of the invention is designated 126 and is provided with an opening or bore portion 128 closely fitted and slidably mounted over a straight cylindrical or peripheral portion 130 of the valve actuator and nozzle 13. The modification comprises a second part of the actuator and nozzle 13 which is designated 132 and which corresponds with the part 116, hereinbefore described. This part 132 does not have enlarged portion 110, but merely a straight cylindrical portion or peripheral area on which the locking member 26 is slidably mounted, and thus responsive to gravity to move axially on the portion 130 of the part 132.

The locking member 126 at its opening 128 is thus provided with a first engaging portion adapted to engage the valve actuator and a peripheral portion of the annular and generally disc-shaped locking member 126 is designated 134 and constitutes a second engaging portion. This peripheral portion 134 is engagable with an inner annular wall 136 of a stationary structure 138 connected to the cap 90 which is similar to the cap 90 disclosed in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The locking device or locking member 126, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 7, is disengaged so as to permit pivotal movement of the valve actuator and nozzle member 13 into the broken line position 137 and to actuate the valve 34 communicating with the interiors of the containers 10 and 18. When the container is in upright position, the locking member 126 slides to a broken line position 140, such that the peripheral portion 134 of the locking member is abutted internally of the annular wall 136 of the stationary structure 138, and the closely fitted relation of the opening 128 around the portion 130 of the part 132 prevents the valve actuator and nozzle 13 from being tilted and thus prevents the actuator from operating the valve 34 communicating with the containers 10 and 18.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the gravity responsive valve actuator locking device of the present invention, either in the form as disclosed in FIG. 1 or the modification as disclosed in FIG. 7, will automatically respond to gravity and lock the valve closed, when the container is in the upright position, and permit opening of the valve 34 only when the container is inverted, and when the liquids communicate directly with the port 56 and the passage 51, all as hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an aerosol valve actuator locking device, the combination of: a container; a stationary structure fixed on said container and including a container cap; an aerosol dispensing valve carried by said cap; a manually operable actuator disposed to actuate said valve, said actuator being provided with a universal joint about which it is tiltably mounted on said stationary structure; a gravity actuated locking member movably mounted relative to said actuator and said stationary structure; said locking member responsive to gravity, and thus movable into and out of a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to said actuator; said locking member having first and second engaging portions engagable With said actuator and said stationary structure, respectively, said first and second engaging portions being annular and surrounding said actuator, said first and second engaging portions engaged with both said actuator and said stationary structure when said locking member is in said locked position to prevent said actuator from being moved substantially relative to said valve, and thereby preventing said actuator from actuating said valve, said locking member, when in said unlocked position, having one of said engaging portions disengaged, thereby allowing said actuator to actuate said valve, when said locking member is in said unlocked position.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said stationary structure is provided with an annular abutment portion; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member closely surrounding said abutment portion, when in said locked position, said first annular engaging portion of said locking member including an opening therein which surrounds said actuating member, said actuator having an enlarged annular portion closely surrounded by said opening, when said locking member is in locked position; said actuator provided with a reduced annular portion spaced from and surrounded by said opening of said locking member, when in unlocked position, to allow lateral tilting movement of said actuator in said opening to thereby actuate said valve.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said stationary structure is provided with an annular abutment portion closely surrounding said second annular engaging portion of said locking member, when in said locked position, said first annular engaging portion of said locking member comprising an opening therein closely slidably mounted in surrounding relation to said actuator and adapted to slide thereon; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member disengaged with said annular abutment portion of said stationary structure, when said locking member is in unlocked position, to allow said locking member to move tiltably with said actuator and relative to said stationary structure for actuating said valve.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said actuator is a hollow fluid dispensing conduit of generally tubular form.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: said stationary structure is provided with an annular abutment portion; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member closely surrounding said annular abutment portion, when said locking member is in locked position, said first annular engaging portion of said locking member including an opening therein which surrounds said actuator, said actuator having an enlarged annular portion closely surrounded by said opening, when said locking member is in locked position; said actuator having a reduced annular portion spaced from and surrounded by said opening of said locking member, when in unlocked position, to allow lateral tilting movement of said actuator in said opening to thereby permit actuation of said valve.

6. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: said stationary structure is provided with an annular abutment portion closely surrounding said second annular engaging portion of said locking member, when in said locked position, said first annular engaging portion of said locking member comprising an opening therein closely slidably mounted in surrounding relation to said actuator and adapted to slide thereon; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member disengaged with said annular abutment portion of said stationary structure, when said locking member is in locked position, to allow said locking member to move tiltably with said actuator and relative to said stationary structure for actuating said valve.

7. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said locking member is disposed to respond to gravity and move to unlocked position, when said container is inverted with its cap directed downwardly.

8. The invention, as defined in claim 7, wherein: said actuator is a hollow fluid dispensing nozzle of generally tubular form and projects downwardly, when said container is inverted.

9. The invention, as defined in claim 7, wherein: said actuator is provided with a spherical joint about which it is universally tiltably movably mounted on said stationary structure, said first and second engaging portions of said locking member being annular and surrounding said actuator; said actuator being a hollow fluid dispensing conduit of generally tubular form; said stationary structure being provided with an annular abutment portion; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member closely surrounding said abutment portion, when said locking member is in said locked position; said first annular engaging portion of said locking member, including an opening therein, which surrounds said actuator, said actuator having an enlarged annular portion closely surrounded by said opening, when said locking member is in locked position; said actuator having a reduced annular portion spaced from and surrounded by said opening of said locking member, when in locked position, to allow lateral tilting movement of said actuator in said opening to thereby actuate said valve.

10. The invention, as defined in claim 7, wherein: said actuator is provided with a spherical joint about which it is universally tiltably movably mounted on said stationary structure, said first and second engaging portions of said locking member being annular and surrounding said actuator; said actuator being a hollow fluids dispensing conduit of generally tubular form; said stationary structure having an annular abutment portion closely surrounding said second annular engaging portion of said locking member, when in said locked position; said first annular engaging portion of said locking member comprising an opening therein closely slidably mounted in surrounding relation to said actuator and adapted to slide thereon; said second annular engaging portion of said locking member disengaged with said annular abutment portion of said stationary structure, when said locking member is in unlocked position, to allow said locking member to move tiltably with said actuator and relative to said stationary structure for actuating said valve.

11. The invention, as defined in claim 10, wherein: said actuator is provided with an open materials delivery end which is directed downwardly when said container is in said inverted position.

12. In an aerosol valve actuator locking device, the combination of: a container; stationary structure fixed on said container and including a container cap; an aerosol dispensing valve carried by said cap; a manually op erable actuator disposed to actuate said valve, said actuator movable relative to said stationary structure; a gravity actuated locking member movably mounted relative to said actuator and said stationary structure; said locking member responsive to gravity, and thus movable into and out of a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to said actuator; said locking member having first and second engaging portions circumferentially disposed about said actuator and engageable with said actuator and said stationary structure, respectively, said first and second engaging portions engaged with both said actuator and said stationary structure when said locking member is in said locked position to prevent said actuator from being moved substantially relative to said valve, and thereby preventing said actuator from actuating said valve, said locking member, when in said unlocked position, having one of said engaging portions disengaged, thereby allowing said actuator to actuate said valve, when said locking member is in said unlocked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,330,176 9/1943 Kahn 222500 2,703,665 3/1955 Soffer et al 251-89 X 2,772,819 12/1956 Poarch et a1 222509 X 3,062,417 11/1962 Sullivan et a1. 222402.11

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 251-89 

